Bárbara León, a 14-year-old student at MAST Academy in Virginia Key, is taking a journalism course for the first time. She was born in Venezuela but moved to Miami when she was four years old. She lives in Downtown Miami with her mom and stepdad. León speaks Spanish as her first language but also knows English. She recently started attending MAST Academy and enjoys the location and environment. Despite having no prior interest or experience in journalism, she decided to take the course to improve her writing skills and to learn about journalism. León believes she will enjoy the class because she likes writing and covering stories. She is also interested in trying out beach volleyball, as she already plays court volleyball. León loves the beach and enjoys hanging out with friends and visiting beach towns like Naples and Cocoa Beach. Additionally, she is learning Portuguese to communicate with her family and French at school with her favorite teacher, Ms. Jasmin. Overall, León is excited about the new school year and the opportunities it brings. “I look forward to a successful new school year and new experiences” León said.